, because a lot of people have denied us, you know, wouldn't help us. so she was there. >> reporter: in the 1980's declining health was only part of the problem that came with an aids diagnosis. >> if you had aids you were pretty much just shunned. >> reporter: taylor fought that stigma, says the doctor who treated her friend and costar, rock hudson, who died of aids. >> she knew in her heart that we would never get anywhere against this until we got a handle on the prejudice. >> reporter: michael smithwick, the executive director of maitri and h.i.v. positive himself for 30 years, remembers vividly how he felt when elizabeth taylor first took a stand for people like him. >> it was a sense of elation, and a sense of finally, finally someone has stepped forward and spoken to truth. and done so in a very brave way. >> reporter: it was perhaps the most dramatic act in a life that had plenty of drama. john blackstone, cbs news, san francisco. >> couric: and that's the "cbs evening news" for tonight. i'm katie couric. thanks for watching. i'll see you tomorr